DPICT Illustration Exhibition

"Illustration brings words to life through visual representation, depicting reality in a recognisable form whilst delivering a clear and strong message. DPICT will explore this concept and will help to create a network among illustrators as they view each other’s work and initiate a dialogue about their common passion."

This is going to be my first ever exhibition outside Cebu. I'm thrilled, scared, and excited all at the same time. I'll be sending my framed artworks tomorrow. Yay!

Opening: 16 December 2009, 7pm

Exhibition runs until 7 January 2010

at the Gallery of Light, Manu Chhabria Arts Centre

DUCTAC, Level 2 MOE, Dubai

For more information call DUCTAC: 04 341 4777

or visit www.ductac.org

Timings:

9.00am - 10.00pm (saturday to thursday)

2.00pm - 10.00pm (fridays & holidays)

ART'S GIRL POWER

We've been featured! My (favourite) Art Appreciation college professor has written an article about our works and how GIRLALOO rocks like Wonder Girls. (Awww, shucks.) I am tremendously honoured and inspired to create more "bimorphic forms" of art.

ARTICLE:

Art's girl power
by Radel Paredes, Cebu Daily News - Life! (November 17, 2009)

THEY are the local art world's equivalent to the Wonder Girls, making digital illustrations that (clap, clap) nobody, nobody can top. Not even the boys in the trade. Girlaloo, the all-girl group of illustrators, hopes to dissolve the digital divide and the gender gap in their first, self-titled exhibit.

Consisting of more than 30 computer-generated or digitally enhanced drawings, the show opened Nov.9 at the lobby of the University of San Carlos College of Architecture and Fine Arts building.

Most members were USC fine arts alumnae, so choosing to launch the exhibit tour in their alma mater is a gesture of homecoming. From USC, the works will be shown in the University of the Philippines Cebu Campus and the Benedicto College.

Targeting the the art school set is deliberate as the group aims not only to promote digital illustration as an "exciting outlet of expression and voice" but also to encourage other girls to consider it as a serious career option.

The artists thus flirt tipping the balance, making even the most macho digital art geek succumb to girl power.

And how diverse are the ways in which this power projects. There's the flotsam of bimorphic forms and cartoon monsters in the doodles of Govinda Trazo and Tambolbee Villarino.

There's also the strange digital and pop version of Art Nouveau in the portraits of women by Richelle Chua and Narki Hormiguera. Kristy Anne Ligones, on the other hand, is not as keen at the irony of simulating organic forms with a computer. Her own depiction of a woman combines the cute and the grotesque.

A mix of Mary Poppins and Yellow Submarine is hinted in the work of Kristine Oplando, while blinking stars and planets add cosmic aura to February Anne Ybanez's drawings of children. Childhood fantasy is revisited by Johanna Velasco-Deutsch, Luisa Gonzaga, and Madeth Villarosa. But rather than imagine a world of happy endings, the girls opted to portray a gloomy fairy tale.

Indeed the artists of Girlaloo have come of age. And despite the common fascination with the kikay, the kinky and the kitschy, they have proven that their works can still solicit serious reflection. Or, that high tech doodle, can be high art, too.

x x x x x x x x x x

GIRLALOO power!

GIRLALOO has successfully toured in USC and is currently showing in UP this week. I'm so humbly proud to be part of this group exhibit. For one, because it's a touring exhibit to schools so that means, in some way or another, we just might have given a bit of inspiration and courage to rising women (and men) designers.

READ MORE:

GIRLALOO: first stop at USC

GIRLALOO: second stop at UP

GIRLALOO.org

empowering the women in design.

an all women digital illustration exhibit tour.

www.girlaloo.org

Tambolbee Villarino

Darlene Sanguenza

Lucille Umali

Luisa Gonzaga

Govinda Trazo

Kristy Anne Ligones

Madeth Villarosa

Kristine Oplado

Johanna Velasco - Deutsch

Richelle Chua

February Anne Ybanez

Narki Hormiguera

Girlaloo updates / older posts

GIRLALOO

TOUR DATES:

nov 9-13: university of san carlos

nov 16-20: university of the philippines

nov 23-27: benedicto college

Day In A Jar

Created in 2004, finally published today! I'm so thrilled to share a story about a brave little faerie who rescues Day from being trapped inside an evil jar. Find out how she and her friends save the Eearth from total darkness.

Buy my eBook!

Story: Govinda Trazo

Cover concept: Tambolbee

ah. the satisfaction.

I almost forgot how it felt like to finally make a little javascript work in your own sweat. After a lot of research and google-ing and experimenting and tweaking - it is now working according to my direction. And I am so so satisfied I had to tell you - that is without telling you what project I am actually working on.

I'm not a genius at coding or decoding scripts, but I try to get all the help I can get online. There are answers out there that can help you or give you examples, all you have to do is make a one sample from scratch and then experiment it according to what you want.

Am I boring you or making you want to make a website? I am just too happy to tell you that the satisfaction of a working mother has come again. Aaah. Like tiny happy fireflies going on in your brain... now I can peacefully snuggle to my snoring babylove to bed.

(Actually, it was just a simple dropdown menu *blush.)

the giveaway plan

This is the plan for the giveaway: A little paper bag full of Zaiid's favorite things. That means we're giving away tiny toy cars, some characters of his recent favorite movies, a bunch of numbers and letters, cookies and biscuits, a chuckie chocolate drink, and definitely a rock.

Each paper bag will be sealed with an adorable sticker that says "The stuff i Love! - 07•04•09 family park, cebu • open this bag and you'll find the stuff i love! • 3 years of awesomeness" I think I will have to doodle something out on the paper bag so it would look a bit of a fun-mess.

So what do you guys think of this idea? Any more I can add? Let me know. Thanks!

I shouldn't be blogging about this, should I? I would take out the surprise touch on the big day. Oh well, I don't think my little boy's guests read my blog hehe.

Mijn Schatje copied Totoro!

I thought the rabbit felt very Hayao Miyazaki. It had to be. I am a fan of his animated films as Spirited Away is one of my ultimate favourite movie. I've also known My Neighbor Totoro by heart and I knew that cute little creature on that illustration is Totoro.

How can this Mijn Schatje thought of getting away with stealing other's works while making money all on her own? I can't believe how she imagined that people wouldn't recognize other artists works. I'm sorry but I have to say that this is truly a pathetic cry for desperation - couldn't create my own, might as well do some short cut. 

Related links:

an illustrator's downfall

radiotrash.org

the full story

Plagiarism

an illustrator's downfall.

I knew about her works from my Illustration Now Volume 2 book. Seeing her vectors, I thought there was something very familiar about it. Maybe because they looked like dolls. I thought it was an interesting new approach. The fine threads of the doll's hair were amazing and the eyes were boldly spaced out in their own world. But today, I was saddened and disgusted at how she does it so easily, hurting the humble makers and photographers of D.I.M Dolls.

 

A repost from radiotrash.org: 

Mijn Schatje, real name Marie Blanco Hendrickx, is a successful artist who makes a living based off the images she creates. Prints of her work retail for over a thousand dollars, she's made deals with Sony Playstation and Fornarina Clothing, and large-scale statues have been created based on her pictures. Unfortunately, she is not as original as she claims. The faces of Mijn Schatje's works, as well as other components, are taken directly from photographs made by other artists without credit and, in many cases, without any form of permission. This site chronicles her primary source: photos of asian ball-jointed dolls, commonly known as BJDs.

Here are some shocking comparisons:

More comparisons here.

Know the full story here.

It is or It is not (plagiarism)

There is a big difference between taking somebody else's photograph/object as your "reference for inspiration" and "tracing (or whatever technique) it and hopefully create a new artwork and make money out of it". Of course, the latter never works. Artists should respect each other's style and value each other's creation. Tsk. Tsk.

happy EARTH day!

I couldn't find time to make a new one, 

so here's my old (2005) litte gift to you Mother. 

So today I'm shouting: 

All is full of Love!

spreading love!

One of my best buddies (since high school days) has bloomed into a very fine photographer. A very brave spirit, always wanting to try and pursue her passion - she shares to the world what she sees as something interesting. May they be very personal or the very subtle way of saying "not quite right but here it is".

Two months ago, she started with her Project 365 as a push to go reach for her new found love. As a result? Experimentations and eye-candy pictures. See for yourself.

After a quick afternoon chat, she shares me a new (well it's an old one really) photoshop trick! I can't believe I'm missing this! Thanks fyns for showing me how to do vintage looking photographs. It's the secret of the curves! I usually just go with Levels and Colour Balance and Hue and Saturation. Open a favourite photo, Cmd M (Curves) and adjust the RGB's... tada! There you have it! Here's my own splash of the vintage love...

i am govinda.

Yey! 

New updated website now up!

Check it out and let me know what you think :)

what right have you got?

I just had a conversation with Niel. He accused me of being a sloth because I did not turn my illustrations into vectors because he thinks he is so stinking good that I should have thought about comparing my style in raw and vectorized.

Weeks ago he invited me to do a collaboration with him for a shirt design. Initially I was excited and thought it was a great idea. He asked for my raw illustrations and said he wanted to turn them into vectors. I wasn't sure if that would work. Turning my insects into vectors would loose its essence. But I still gave my sketch away anyway. I did it because I trusted him and I knew he's got a good reason behind it.

Soon enough though I was bothered again by the idea of turning my illustrations into vectors. I don't see the need for it anymore and I don't want to lose it's raw-ness. I wanted to tell him frankly that I didn't want to loose my illustration's original feel and turning them into vectors would create an impression that they are no longer mine. I was being honest.

him: usahay tanawon sad nimo kng asa nindot sa imong style... ang kalahian sa imong style ang naka vector or raw... wala to nimo gi vector kay gitapulan ka.

me: excuse me noh. wa to nako gi vector kay di ko gusto ivector to. gusto nako ma maintain iyang kirig2x sa strokes sa ballpen. di kay tungod gitapul ko

him: ikaw gud... imo man na

me: o sakto ka. ako ra jud kay ako mani.

him: mao mao

me: kbaw ko unsay itsura ato kung ako tong ivector maong wa ko ni choose i vector... if u think mas better to sya nga i vector, well imo nang opinion

him: please lang yaw pag yawyaw

me: k fine. bye

When I tried explaining and of course stand my right to deny his accusations, he bluntly asked me to not give him a sermon. I politely said goodbye to him. (So I'm blogging about it, at least.)

Excuse me Mister Vector Expert, before you accuse an artist of being a whatever, kindly stop and listen if you are making sense and if you are at some place in this universe have the right to do that. I am not being lazy just because I have not opt to do them in vector. I have maximized my brain cells to its last bit of use and KNOW that my illustrations work best in raw and not in vector. I want to keep the edginess and it's coarse line, ballpen drawn style. I want them to speak differently - not in an exact clean and crisp way, but in an untreated, fresh way. Not all drawings are meant to be vectors - yes, I think you know that. And I have told you that if you think my illustrations look better in vector, that is you're opinion and you are free to think that. But you have no right to call me whatever just because you have an opinion.

I hope you give equal respect to people who respect you.

upgrade to simplicity

I need to update my website. It seemed so old fashioned and it needs an upgrade. I'm not planning to make a flashy-flash site or a very complicated one. I just want an easy-to-update website so it's easier for me to fill in new projects. 

Now I need a pencil and a doodle pad please. Let's brainstorm!

ABC's and 123's

My 2.8yo has never been this interested in the alphabet and numbers. It's always been a mother's pride hearing for the first time, without a miss, her child reciting his abc's or 123's - or at least say his complete name. And I am so proud of how he has grown to love enumerating and identifying figures in plate numbers, store names, keyboard, and books. 

I found Starfall.com that teaches letter-sound relationships and has an easy and kid-friendly navigation. My boy is now experimenting and learning on the exercises it offers. He's having a lot of fun and at the same time he's collecting new words, understanding simple instructions. And what's more amazing, he has discovered how to click and drag a letter using the touch pad! Because he has trouble controlling the mighty mouse, he found a solution on his own.

What an A-for-Awesome discovery of good things! (Like mama discovering the alphabet series by Paul Thurlby.)

doodled wedding album

View full 23 spreads here.

After a month and a half (or so), here they are. 23 spreads, 46 pages, a gazillion doodles. All for the love of... well, design-dancing. These are pages for my good friend and diva Tishoo(and Teody)'s wedding album. Thank you for the surprisingly "lisud" and "kuti" kind of fun. Hope you'll love them as much as I do.

saying goodbyeGoogle for the love of Design.

I found this blog through netdiver.net, my ultimate design-love portal, and thought that this guy must've love designing so much that he had to let go of Google. I once had a silly dream of working at Google - well, just because they look like they're always trying to create grand schemes that could change the world. But today, I change my mind.

"Yes, it’s true that a team at Google couldn’t decide between two blues, so they’re testing 41 shades between each blue to see which one performs better."

It's just so silly having to give so much of a deal and having too much opinion in a design problem. Of course everyone is entitled to an opinion but design is a philosophy and has it's own principles that could guide us. And if people who have no background in high design rules, then that would indeed come to an endless debate.

Read Douglas Bowman's Goodbye Google blog entry.

Perfect On Paper III

Perfect On Paper III made The Outpost bang a big boom event last March 14, 209. It was indeed a big success and for that, we would like to thank everyone who came - and bought journals and postcards - and enjoyed the exhibit. It was our pleasure to share our labour of love and extend the opportunity for you to keep the artworks. Thanks to the hard-rockin' support of the POP crew and extended-POPpers (friends, husbands, sisters, you!) who made this event possible. To Niel Quisaba who started this crazy perfection on paper - salamat 'doots! See you all next year!

These are some of my favourite photos taken from the setup to the opening. Enjoy!

POP III opens to the public

my postcard. SOLD OUT. salamat ninyo! :)

He got my journal! salamat :)

Autograph-signing... a shoe! :)

Thank you people!

enjoying freelancing?

I have been freelancing for about 4 months now - for my ex-bosses and friends - but it seems like I have been doing this for years. I'm not complaining, it's just that I'm overwhelmed by the time they demand from me. I end up getting annoyed and irritated by the way I steal time, thinking I needed to finish or amend something. Choosing not to have a day job was never a hard thing for me because I always wanted to be a stay-at-home-full-time-mother-slash-wife. But now that projects came pouring in, sadly, I don't thing i have become "full-time" for my babies :( Or at least that's what I feel. 

Yes, I love the freedom it brings... the control I have over time - but why am I ranting over these things? Crap. Maybe I'm just a little uninspired with that gloomy grey sky outside my window.